The facet joints are the paired joints at the back of the spine that connect each vertebra to the ones above and below it, guiding and limiting motion as you bend and twist. Like any joint in the body, they are lined with cartilage and can develop arthritis — and when they do, they become a frequent and often overlooked source of chronic neck and back pain. Facet-related pain is typically felt as an aching pain across the low back or neck that worsens with standing, arching backward, or twisting, is often accompanied by morning stiffness, and may spread into the buttock, hip, or shoulder without following a single nerve. Because imaging alone cannot confirm that an arthritic facet joint is the true pain generator, Dr. Webb uses precise diagnostic medial branch blocks — small, image-guided injections that temporarily numb the nerves serving a specific joint — to verify the diagnosis before recommending treatment. For many patients, radiofrequency ablation of those nerves provides durable relief; however, because the treated nerves regenerate, that relief is temporary and the procedure must be repeated over time. Facet joint fusion offers a longer-lasting alternative for appropriately selected patients: through a small incision, using fluoroscopic guidance, a small implant or bone graft is placed across the painful joint to stop the painful motion permanently rather than temporarily interrupting the pain signal. The procedure is minimally invasive, is performed on an outpatient basis at our affiliated ambulatory surgery center, and involves a substantially shorter recovery than traditional open spine surgery, with most patients resuming normal activity over a period of weeks. Candidacy matters greatly with this procedure, and Dr. Webb will recommend fusion only after your diagnostic workup confirms the facet joint as the source of your pain and after a candid discussion of the alternatives, including continued radiofrequency ablation. When the right procedure meets the right patient, the result is lasting relief.